Public perceptions about climate change - the good, the bad and the ugly

Diagram 1

The climate change issue is as complex a topic with global community engagement and communication as much as it is about the science and technological solutions to address it. While there is strong support for action in Europe, the Pacific and many parts of Asia, there continues to be very divided opinions in the United States and Australia.

The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication has provided valuable insights into the communication challenge with climate change and the US population. Flowing from research and survey work started in 2009, the Yale program has demonstrated that there are six distinct and unique audiences in the US.  These six audiences have very different levels of engagement on the climate change issue due to varying psychology, culture,  risk perception, attitudes and political affiliation.

The Alarmed  are fully convinced of the reality and seriousness of climate change and are already taking individual, consumer and political action to address it. The Concerned are also convinced about global warming but are not engaged with it personally.

The three other groups being the Cautious, the Disengaged, and the Doubtful represent different stages of understanding and acceptance that climate change is a problem. None of these groups are actively engaged with the issue.

The real concern are the Dismissive who are very sure that climate change is not happening and are actively involved as opponents of a national effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The distribution and size of the six groups are shown in Diagrams 1 and 2.

There are signs that perceptions are changing and that public opinion in the United States is slowly shifting to greater engagement and concern about climate change. Comparing Diagram 1 (above) with Diagram (2) below which covers a 12 month period from 2018-2019, a discernible movement to greater alarm can be detected.

Diagram 2

From an Australian point of view, similar categories of community engagement would almost certainly be identified here with key political leaders being within the Dismissive group.

Link to the Yale study -
Yale climate communication - global warming